Some smart machines can now smell things like a nose. They can find bad germs in food that can make people sick. These machines use a special part that smells the air and tells a computer what it smells. A company in Israel made a machine that can tell if food is bad in less than one hour. This is very fast and can help keep food safe.

People all over the world can get sick from bad food. A lot of people get sick and some even die. The new smell machines can help find the bad germs quickly so people do not eat the bad food. Right now, people have to wait a long time to know if food is bad. But these new machines are not expensive and can tell right away if food is safe.

Original news source: The electronic noses designed to prevent food poisoning (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into two teams. Give each team a set of words related to the article (e.g. machine, smell, food, germs, safe). One person from each team will act out the word without speaking, while the rest of the team tries to guess what the word is. The team that guesses the most words correctly wins.

– News Summary
Instructions: Have the class read the article individually or in pairs. Then, ask them to summarize the main points of the article in their own words. Afterward, have a class discussion where students share their summaries and compare them to ensure understanding.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Ask the class to form small groups. Give each group a list of statements related to the article (e.g. “Smart machines that can smell like a nose are a good invention,” “Waiting a long time to know if food is safe is a problem”). Have each group discuss the statements and mark whether they agree or disagree. Then, have one spokesperson from each group share their group’s opinions with the class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write a list of vocabulary words from the article on the board (e.g. germs, machines, smell, food). Divide the class into pairs. One person from each pair will choose a word from the list and draw a picture to represent it, while their partner tries to guess the word. After a certain amount of time, switch roles and continue until all the words have been guessed.

– Speed Summarizing
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a copy of the article. Set a timer for 2 minutes. One person will read the article aloud while their partner listens. After 2 minutes, the listener has to summarize the main points of the article in their own words. Then, switch roles and repeat the activity with a new timer. The pair that can summarize the article in the shortest amount of time wins.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What can some machines do now that is like a nose?
2. How do the machines know if food is bad?
3. What did a company in Israel make that can tell if food is bad quickly?
4. Why is it important to find bad germs in food?
5. What can happen if people eat bad food?
6. Why is it good that the new machines are not expensive?
7. How long do people have to wait to know if food is bad right now?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Some smart machines can now smell things like a (1)______. They can find bad germs in food that can (2)______ people sick. These machines use a special part that smells the air and tells a computer what it smells. A company in Israel made a machine that can tell if food is bad in (3)______ than one hour. This is very fast and can (4)______ keep food safe.

People all over the (5)______ can get sick from bad food. A lot of people get sick and some even die. The new smell machines can help (6)______ the bad germs quickly so people do not eat the bad food. Right now, people have to wait a long time to know if food is bad. But these new machines are not (7)______ and can (8)______ right away if food is safe.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is a smart machine?
2. How would you feel if you ate bad food and got sick?
3. Do you like the idea of machines that can smell things?
4. Do you think it’s important to keep food safe?
5. What is a germ?
6. How would you feel if you had to wait a long time to know if food is bad?
7. Do you think it’s good that the machines can tell right away if food is safe? Why or why not?
8. What do you think happens when people eat bad food?
9. How would you feel if you knew there was a machine that could find bad germs in food?
10. Why do you think it’s important to find bad germs in food quickly?
11. How would you feel if the machines were expensive and not many people could use them?
12. Do you think it’s a good idea for more machines like this to be made? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. machines
2. smell
3. germs
4. food
5. safe
6. people
7. wait
8. expensive

Meanings:
(a) Something you do with your nose to know things
(b) Something you eat to stay alive
(c) Humans, like you and me
(d) Costs a lot of money
(e) Not dangerous or harmful
(f) Tiny things that can make you sick
(g) Things that can do jobs without people
(h) To stay in one place until something happens
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What can some smart machines do now?
(a) See things like eyes
(b) Taste things like a tongue
(c) Smell things like a nose
(d) Hear things like ears

2. How do the machines find bad germs in food?
(a) They see the germs with their eyes
(b) They smell the air and tell a computer
(c) They taste the food and tell a computer
(d) They hear the germs with their ears

3. Where was the machine made?
(a) France
(b) Israel
(c) Spain
(d) Germany

4. How long does it take for the machine to tell if food is bad?
(a) Less than one hour
(b) One day
(c) One week
(d) One month

5. Why is it important to find bad germs in food quickly?
(a) So people don’t get sick
(b) So people can eat more food
(c) So people can have fun
(d) So people can sleep

6. What do people have to do right now to know if food is bad?
(a) Smell the food themselves
(b) Ask their friends
(c) Wait a long time
(d) Guess if it’s bad or not

7. Are the new smell machines expensive?
(a) Yes
(b) Maybe
(c) I don’t know
(d) No

8. Can the machines tell right away if food is safe?
(a) No
(b) Maybe
(c) I don’t know
(d) Yes

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. These machines cannot find bad germs in food that can make people sick.
2. The new smell machines can help find the bad germs quickly so people do not eat the bad food.
3. This machine is very slow and cannot help keep food safe.
4. The machines use a regular part that smells the air and tells a computer what it smells.
5. People all over the world can get sick from bad food.
6. These machines are not expensive and can tell right away if food is safe.
7. No machines can smell things like a nose.
8. A company in Israel made a machine that can tell if food is bad in less than one hour.
Go to answers ⇩

Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What can some machines do now that is similar to what a nose does?
2. How do these machines find bad germs in food?
3. Where was the machine made that can tell if food is bad in less than one hour?
4. Why is it important to find bad germs in food quickly?
5. What is one advantage of the new smell machines compared to the old way of testing food?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What can some machines do now that is like a nose?
Some machines can now smell things like a nose.

2. How do the machines know if food is bad?
The machines smell the air and tell a computer what it smells.

3. What did a company in Israel make that can tell if food is bad quickly?
A company in Israel made a machine that can tell if food is bad in less than one hour.

4. Why is it important to find bad germs in food?
It is important to find bad germs in food because they can make people sick.

5. What can happen if people eat bad food?
If people eat bad food, they can get sick and some even die.

6. Why is it good that the new machines are not expensive?
It is good that the new machines are not expensive because more people can afford them.

7. How long do people have to wait to know if food is bad right now?
Right now, people have to wait a long time to know if food is bad.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) nose
(2) make
(3) less
(4) help
(5) world
(6) find
(7) expensive
(8) tell
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. machines
Answer: (g) Things that can do jobs without people

2. smell
Answer: (a) Something you do with your nose to know things

3. germs
Answer: (f) Tiny things that can make you sick

4. food
Answer: (b) Something you eat to stay alive

5. safe
Answer: (e) Not dangerous or harmful

6. people
Answer: (c) Humans, like you and me

7. wait
Answer: (h) To stay in one place until something happens

8. expensive
Answer: (d) Costs a lot of money
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What can some smart machines do now?
Answer: (c) Smell things like a nose

2. How do the machines find bad germs in food?
Answer: (b) They smell the air and tell a computer

3. Where was the machine made?
Answer: (b) Israel

4. How long does it take for the machine to tell if food is bad?
Answer: (a) Less than one hour

5. Why is it important to find bad germs in food quickly?
Answer: (a) So people don’t get sick

6. What do people have to do right now to know if food is bad?
Answer: (c) Wait a long time

7. Are the new smell machines expensive?
Answer: (d) No

8. Can the machines tell right away if food is safe?
Answer: (d) Yes
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. These machines cannot find bad germs in food that can make people sick. (Answer: False)
2. The new smell machines can help find the bad germs quickly so people do not eat the bad food. (Answer: True)
3. This machine is very slow and cannot help keep food safe. (Answer: False)
4. The machines use a regular part that smells the air and tells a computer what it smells. (Answer: False)
5. People all over the world can get sick from bad food. (Answer: True)
6. These machines are not expensive and can tell right away if food is safe. (Answer: True)
7. No machines can smell things like a nose. (Answer: False)
8. A company in Israel made a machine that can tell if food is bad in less than one hour. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧